My husband and I got back quite late from the Leonard Cohen show in Boston last night (the show got out at midnight and it’s a three hour drive back to Maine so needless to say I’m exhausted). Still, it was an excellent concert and I’m extremely impressed by the man. I’ve grown used to seeing living legends on stage who are out of shape, seem tired, and sound little like their former selves, but with the exception of a more gruff and low voice Leonard is none of the above. He sprinted out onto the stage and for the duration of the concert (which consisted of two parts and two encores totaling 4 hours) danced and knelt and bowed and moved from one band member to another with more flexibility than I as a 26 year old possess. He also had a humility that was terribly endearing, at one point jokingly asking after a spontaneous round of applause from the audience if we really meant it or if we were just being nice to an older gentleman. I don’t have any pictures from the concert because they specifically stated it was prohibited to take any and I respect such rules (unlike the 10 or so people in front of me with their iphones), but I did purchase a mug and lapel pin from the merch table.

Aubin with Leonard Cohen merch from the 2012 tour

I think the “Cup of Longing,” modeled after the cover of his Book of Longing, definitely wins the prize for my favorite tour merch of 2012.

Last night legendary singer/songwriter, Leonard Cohen took the Stage at the Wang Theatre in Boston. The 78 year old Cohen played his first of two Boston shows (the second is tonight) on Saturday, putting on a nearly four hour. The sold out crowd gave Cohen a warm welcomen and were treated to a truly special evening. See the setlist and my photos below. – Stephen Atkinson
SETLIST: Leonard Cohen @ Wang Theatre, Boston, MA || SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, 2012

I: Dance Me to the End of Love, The FutureBird on the Wire, Everybody Knows, Who by Fire, Darkness, Ain’t No Cure for Love, Amen, Come Healing, In My Secret Life, A Thousand Kisses Deep (Recitation), Anthem

Several times during Leonard Cohen’s epic and enveloping show at the Citi Wang Theatre Saturday night, the legendary singer-songwriter would sing one of his famous, devastatingly precise couplets and the audience would break into applause.

If the crowd had applauded every time Cohen’s poetic eloquence was displayed, it would’ve meant a nonstop ovation for almost the entirety of the 3-hour-plus performance. That might’ve been distracting but it would’ve been understandable given how deep his gift for expression runs and how impeccably it was brought to life by the man and his superb band.

At 78, it would make sense, even be expected, that Cohen would move a little slower or play for less time. But the opposite was true. The spry Cohen — cutting a natty figure in black suit and fedora as did most of his band — literally skipped about the stage, went down on his knees frequently, and played more than two dozen songs, ambitiously covering the ground between his 1967 debut and this year’s “Old Ideas.”

Gracious, funny, solemn, and admirably appreciative of his band, it was as if Cohen sensed that time for this kind of activity may be running out and he was going to make sure that both he and his fans were able to wring the most possible out of the experience.

The moods of the evening were varied, sometimes within the songs themselves from acoustic hush to full-band heat and from bleak to bawdy as Cohen sang in his burnished croak of love, life, sex, faith, and death.

First set peaks included the dark slow burner, “Everybody Knows,” the insidiously funky, organ-fired “Darkness,” and a poignant “Anthem.” The second set included many tasteful takes on Cohen classics — “I’m Your Man,” “Suzanne,” and “Democracy” among them — as well as backing singer and his songwriting collaborator Sharon Robinson’s powerful take on “Alexandra Leaving.” And as many strong covers there are of Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” it is always a pleasure to hear it back in its owner’s voice.

In a band full of stars, backing vocalists the Webb Sisters and Robinson were a particularly celestial choir — with the sisters reducing many to tears with their encore performance of “If It Be Your Will” — and Javier Mas, a master of several instruments including 12-string guitar and archilaud, provided warm colors throughout the night.

If the crowd had applauded every time Cohen’s poetic eloquence was displayed, it would’ve meant a nonstop ovation for almost the entirety of the 3-hour-plus performance. That might’ve been distracting but it would’ve been understandable given how deep his gift for expression runs and how impeccably it was brought to life by the man and his superb band.

This is exactly the feeling I had at the concert I've attented.

Oh! To drop everything and rush to Boston for tonight...Dream, dream, dream...

***
"He can love the shape of human beings, the fine and twisted shapes of the heart. It is good to have among us such men, such balancing monsters of love."

If the crowd had applauded every time Cohen’s poetic eloquence was displayed, it would’ve meant a nonstop ovation for almost the entirety of the 3-hour-plus performance. That might’ve been distracting but it would’ve been understandable given how deep his gift for expression runs and how impeccably it was brought to life by the man and his superb band.

This is exactly the feeling I had at the concert I've attented.
Oh! To drop everything and rush to Boston for tonight...Dream, dream, dream...

You're welcome Tchocolati.
And a very nice excerpt you have quoted above - and so true. I think these shows are a remarkable "gift" to those who have attended.
Our "virtual" tour is almost over - and Leonard and the UHTC will be taking a break
(and I'm looking forward to a little less computer time )

But FIRST - we take Manhattan!!

So far we have no video at all from Boston. I read in the woman's blog above that cameras were not permitted.
But still - I hope ...
I would love to see video of - Chelsea Hotel / Lover, Lover, Lover / Darkness etc. - the new arrangements.

sturgess66 wrote: I would love to see video of - Chelsea Hotel / Lover, Lover, Lover / Darkness etc. - the new arrangements.

I am hoping for a video of Leonard channeling his inner Jerry Lee Lewis during Tower of Song from night 2 ...

jll.jpg

... goodness, gracious ...

For those not at the 2nd night in Boston, to explain Eskimo's request for video of Tower of Song. During LC's "solo" on the keyboard where he always gets cheers then follows it with the "you're too kind..." quote on night 2 he did something new. He followed it with "Next time I'll work up the strength to play it with 2 fingers, like this" then went into a quick 2 fingered solo which got the crowd going. Then he decided to really let loose and ran his elbow across the keys which cracked everyone up especially the Webbs and Sharon. Then to top it off right before he went back to the song he lifted his leg to try to put his foot up on the keyboard. I was sitting 3 rows from the stage and could tell from the reactions of the band and those standing in the wings none of that was rehearsed and was just something LC came up with on the spot. Hope he keeps it in for the NYC shows as it was a really good and fun to see (and totally unexpected might I add).
Overall he seemed to be really "on" on Sunday and was really having fun up there. Makes me wonder why he pulled the plug on the show so early in the evening (by LC's standards anyway). After Manhattan as the band was getting ready to walk off and come back for the last set of encores he callled Roscoe over and gave a verbial call for Save The Last Dance which sent everyone into scramble to start the song. The crowd lights that are turned on when he goes to leave and come back for encores were still on when the song started so even they were not prepared for that song and end of the show. Right before it started he said something about it being a work night and having to go to work on Monday then went right into the song. Then when it was over he put the mic down, the band did a quick wave and everyone was off and the house lights came up and the load out began. Even the crowd thought there was more as nobody left or stopped cheering until the crew started to pack everything up. No closing thank yous or speech like other nights "Don't catch a cold, ect". It was a really odd and cold feeling ending compaired to every other show I've been to over the past 4 years. Hope he's feeling ok and he just wanted to get everyone home early to beat the bad weather that was expected later in the evening.

For those not at the 2nd night in Boston, to explain Eskimo's request for video of Tower of Song. During LC's "solo" on the keyboard where he always gets cheers then follows it with the "you're too kind..." quote on night 2 he did something new. He followed it with "Next time I'll work up the strength to play it with 2 fingers, like this" then went into a quick 2 fingered solo which got the crowd going. Then he decided to really let loose and ran his elbow across the keys which cracked everyone up especially the Webbs and Sharon. Then to top it off right before he went back to the song he lifted his leg to try to put his foot up on the keyboard. I was sitting 3 rows from the stage and could tell from the reactions of the band and those standing in the wings none of that was rehearsed and was just something LC came up with on the spot. Hope he keeps it in for the NYC shows as it was a really good and fun to see (and totally unexpected might I add).
Overall he seemed to be really "on" on Sunday and was really having fun up there. Makes me wonder why he pulled the plug on the show so early in the evening (by LC's standards anyway). After Manhattan as the band was getting ready to walk off and come back for the last set of encores he callled Roscoe over and gave a verbial call for Save The Last Dance which sent everyone into scramble to start the song. The crowd lights that are turned on when he goes to leave and come back for encores were still on when the song started so even they were not prepared for that song and end of the show. Right before it started he said something about it being a work night and having to go to work on Monday then went right into the song. Then when it was over he put the mic down, the band did a quick wave and everyone was off and the house lights came up and the load out began. Even the crowd thought there was more as nobody left or stopped cheering until the crew started to pack everything up. No closing thank yous or speech like other nights "Don't catch a cold, ect". It was a really odd and cold feeling ending compaired to every other show I've been to over the past 4 years. Hope he's feeling ok and he just wanted to get everyone home early to beat the bad weather that was expected later in the evening.

Hello Bigdee...

I was mystified too by the early departure with only one encore on Sunday night. Saturday night there had been two encores, including "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "If It Be Your Will" and the usual good nights, but the concert seemed to end very abruptly on Sunday. Does anyone have any idea why this happened? Is Leonard feeling all right? This makes me feel a bit concerned about him.

There were so many wonderful moments on Sunday night and I'm still processing the whole thing!

I believe the curfew was much more strict on Sunday. On Saturday there was quite chaos around 7.45 at the entrance and show started almost at 8.30 /maybe a bit earlier/. Hundreds of people and three narrow entrances. So they have excuse to play almost half an hour longer. On Sunday it was better although they started at 8.15 as well.
Either that or Leonard slightly injured himself during his gymnastics. It was historical /and hysterical/ - Leonard taking over the Webbs on sport side of the show /after all he is a sportsman/. Especially during second half he was moving fast and, I would say, like a crazy. I was quite close and sometimes I couldn´t find him. In one moment he was kneeling in front of Javier, second later he was serenading Neil, then short stop with girls and on his knees in the middle. I have to say, I was actually quite exhausted myself after the Sunday show just watching him! Back to Tower of Song: after gymnastics he sang "I was born like this" with slight pause - there was a big laugh after what we just saw - and then continues with "golden voice". Thunderous aplaus. Unfortunately, sad news, Albert could not record it at all. I hope somebody else was more lucky.
One more thing, there was obligatory shouting "I love you, Leonard". Usually, these days the answer is "I love you too". On Sunday it was "Leave the name with usher".
About chanting during "Darkness": it can be Indian or African - I think most people vote for Indian. Anyway, it is really nice way to introduce Rafael. By that time everybody else is spoken for, so to say, and he is the last one.
Last observation: there were two guys on either sides of stage watching the audience. "My" guy stopped pretending watching us in second half altogether. I was watching him! His neck must hurt now! I think Mary B can elaborate the same thing from the other side.
OMG, it was fun and I am glad I made it to Boston!